Page 12 of Dr. Stone (Billionaires’ Club #9)

ELEVEN

Jace

I glanced down at my phone after it buzzed, alerting me to a new text that had just come through.

I hated going back and forth on text, so I immediately called him back.

“It better be good. You just interrupted Metallica,” Jake said, answering on the first ring.

“Well, from the sound of it, you’ll have plenty of time to listen to them long after I’ve arrived at Seraphina to meet the guys for drinks.”

“True that,” he exhaled. “The freeway is starting to loosen up and move a little, but I’m hitting the next off ramp when I get to it.”

“Why are we going to a rooftop lounge at Titus’s hotel anyway? Did Jim decide to invest in that VIP playhouse, too?”

“God knows what my brother’s acquiring now. Between the Hawks and the Asters, I can’t keep up. Maybe his next move is merging his yacht and aviation company with your old man at Stonecrest.”

I let out a short laugh. “Yeah, maybe when hell freezes over. Everett Stone would rather choke on glass than merge with Jim Mitchell. Until then, they’ll keep circling each other like two alphas in the same territory.”

“Your dad’s a tough old bird.”

“You’re not wrong. But hell, I never thought Sebastian Aster IV would merge with anyone, and now look—two of his sons are practically family with Jim Mitchell.”

“Eh, he’s is just getting soft in his old age,” Jake said with a laugh.

“There’s no other explanation. I’ve known that man my whole life. He’s been like an uncle to me and has always been as ruthless and money-hungry as my father. Selfish as fuck, untouchable, and now look at him? He’s practically a teddy bear,” I finished, finally getting to my car.

“Okay, off the subject of those old buzzards,” Jake said. “I was just texting you so you know to take the side streets. I’m still slowly moving out here. And when you arrive before me, I’ll put you in charge of my order. I want an A5 Wagyu Tartare and a double Macallan 18.”

“Last I checked, Collin was your little bitch, not me,” I teased.

“You are when he’s stuck behind me in traffic.”

“Why did the guys choose this spot?” I asked again since we had jumped off the subject of why I called Jake.

“I have no idea. It was Jim, Spencer, and Sebastian’s idea, not mine. Maybe they need us to kiss Titus’s ass a little?”

“Is he going to be there?” I questioned.

I hadn’t seen him in years. When we were kids growing up on the East Coast, he and his brothers were like family to me and my younger brother.

The Hawks split their time between Europe and the Hamptons, but whenever they were in the States, the five of us were inseparable.

“I haven’t seen that fucker in forever.”

“I didn’t get a guest list, so I can’t tell you that,” Jake said. “I was just told this is where we were meeting tonight.”

“Yeah, I get it. It’s just kind of random, but who cares? After my day in the office, I could use a few drinks.”

“I hear you, brother,” he said.

We wrapped up the conversation so I could drive into downtown Los Angeles to one of the many exclusive hotels that Titus owned.

Damn, just thinking about that asshole made me miss him. It had been over a year since I’d seen him after he moved out here. The man had everything going for him—uncommitted love, a luxurious life, and more women than he could shake a stick at.

The valet barely had time to catch my keys before I stepped inside, into a skyscraper built for one purpose: to spoil the rich rotten. Classic Titus—never content with comfort when he could craft an empire-sized seduction.

The elevator rocketed skyward, smooth and silent, until the numbers above the doors hit the top floor. When they slid open, I stepped directly out onto the rooftop, the city spilling out in every direction.

It was like walking into one of Hawk’s wet dreams. Black marble streaked with gold stretched beneath my feet.

Silk-draped cabanas lined the edges like private sanctuaries.

And at the center, an infinity pool blazed with the reflection of the setting sun, molten fire seeming to pour over the edge and into the skyline below.

The hostess was all sharp lines and soft temptation—sleek black dress, heels that could kill, legs for days.

Titus’s personal hiring policy was clearly alive and well.

She guided me through the lounge, low, sultry jazz curling through the warm evening air.

Servers glided between tables with the precision of a choreographed performance, carrying trays of food that looked like something you’d frame, not eat.

I’d walked in without an appetite, but suddenly I could’ve ordered half the menu.

It reminded me—briefly, uninvited—of how Andie’s smile used to slip past my defenses the same way this place did: quietly, deliberately, until you realized you were already caught. I pushed the thought aside. This wasn’t the night for distractions.

I slid into the booth where Jim Mitchell, Sebastian Aster V, and Spencer Monroe were already half through their drinks.

“Stone,” Sebastian greeted first, smirking. “Long day? You look like hell.”

I flagged the waitress, ordered two double Macallan 18s and Jake’s tartare, then gave him a slow grin. “Let’s see you perform a twelve-hour surgery and still look this good.”

“Yeah, but your ass was in the office all day, no?” Spencer chimed in while Jim did what he always did when we doctors joined these CEOs for anything. He sat back, amused, waiting for the opportune moment to roast one of us doctors.

“Doesn’t matter. It’s all the same sometimes,” I answered.

“All the same my ass,” Jim finally spoke.

“It’s nice to see you look like shit now and then, though,” he said with a smirk, nodding toward the entrance where I’d just walked through.

“Because the way those two dipshits go on about your handsome looks, you’d think they were one bad day away from breaking up just to have a shot at you. ”

“Bullshit,” Collin said as he arrived at the table. “If we can’t resist this little boy toy, we’ll just bring him into the circle of love. ”

“What are you talking about? The office bromance I’ve already got going on the side says I’m keeping Jace for myself, cupcake,” Jake said, sitting across from me and winking like the dipshit he was.

“You know, part of me thinks you idiots are actually serious about all your homoeroticism,” Spencer laughed.

“You wish we were, Spence. You know you’d want a piece of us,” Collin said after ordering his drink.

As we all fell into casual conversation, I leaned back, listening to Jim talk about the markets, whiskey in hand, pretending to care about the CEO babble as my eyes roamed the room.

Then I saw her. Andie. Laughing in one of those private cabanas, head tipped back, eyes bright. And sitting next to her was Titus.

What the fuck?

My eyes locked onto them—Titus’s arm stretched along the back of her seat, his fingers grazing her bare shoulder as he leaned in, his mouth far too close to her ear.

My jaw clenched as the whiskey I’d just sipped burned on the way down my throat, and just like that, the room felt ten degrees hotter.

“Jace, are you with us?” Sebastian asked.

“Yeah,” I muttered, eyes still locked on Andie. “Just…enjoying the view.”

This was a bizarre and extraordinary feeling that I honestly didn’t think I’d ever felt—jealousy over a woman I’d already been with.

“That’s one hell of a view,” Jake commented.

“Isn’t that your wife’s gallery director, Jakey?” Jim questioned.

“Right,” Sebastian snapped his fingers. “That’s where I remember her from, Jake’s yacht. Ash introduced Darcy and me to her after the medical conference ended.” He eyed me, sipped his bourbon, then nodded, “Nice lady.”

“Very nice lady,” Collin said as if each of these assholes’ comments were scripted. “You probably remember her well, too, Jace?”

“Nah,” Spencer spoke before I could, “he loves them, leaves them, and forgets them.” He smirked, “Isn’t that how you’ve always put it after bragging about how amazing your escapades are?”

“You dicks,” I smiled with disbelief. “We came all the way here just for me to see that?” I asked, forcing myself to look away from Titus, who was all but claiming what already felt like mine—not fucking his.

That bastard had everything…how the fuck was he going to end up with the hottest fucking woman I’d ever enjoyed, too?

Something was rapidly changing in me, and I had no idea how to deal with it. Why did I fucking care? Why was I suddenly ready to go to war with a man who was practically my family, someone I truly liked…until now. Until right now, seeing him with my Andie.

What the fuck was wrong with me? I had no idea what to do with these emotions, crashing into me one by one like waves into the shore.

“You look a little hot, man,” Jake said with humor in his voice. “Maybe we can turn on the air conditioner? Oh, wait, I forgot. We’re outside on the breezy rooftop.”

“You look like you’re about to have a panic attack, dude,” Spencer added.

“I’d feel kind of bad that we threw this one in your face,” Sebastian said, “but damn. I didn’t expect you to have this reaction. You’ve never seemed to care about any of your past dalliances.”

“I know,” I said, downing the last of my drink and ordering another. “Jake, trade me spots.”

Jake looked at me like I’d grown ten heads. “Pull your shit together, man,” Jake said. “We’re not going to swap seats because you’ve finally accepted what I’ve known this entire fucking time .” His shit-eating grin was bigger than ever.

“And that is?” I said.

“You’re totally fucked. Something happened between the two of you that’s got you daydreaming. You’re not even dating anymore, and it’s been over a month. I’m betting she’s invaded your dreams now, too?”

“I’m not fucking dreaming about her,” I lied.

Truth was, I had. Every damn night. Not in some sweet, romantic way—more in a welcoming another fuck with her kind of way.

“Just let it out,” Spencer said. “If I can accept having feelings for a woman, I know you can too. It’s okay.”

I exhaled. “I need some fresh air, and the fact that it couldn’t get any fresher up here has me concerned.”

Jim tilted his head toward the cabana. “You think she’s upset she’s with Titus? Because from where I’m sitting, he’s already got his arm around her and she’s laughing like she’s loving it. Keep fighting whatever the hell’s going on inside you, and you’re going to watch him walk off with her.”

Sebastian leaned in. “He’s not wrong. In all the years we’ve known him, we’ve seen Titus go after women before. You know damn well if you wait too long, she won’t be looking your way anymore.”

Jake smirked. “And we all know Titus plays to win.”

I let out a slow breath. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m fighting when it comes to that woman. Seeing her with Titus just makes it worse.”

Jake’s grin widened like this was the moment he’d been waiting for. “Now that you’re finally being honest with us—and yourself—I’ll tell you what you’re going to do. You’re going to follow your heart and get that lady into your arms and out of Titus’s.”

“Last time anyone followed their hearts?—”

“They ended up happily ever after, like all of us chumps,” Collin cut me off. “Well, all except Sebastian, who can’t seem to set a fucking wedding date. Regardless, it’s worth the hell you’ll walk through if you’re up for the challenge.”

Like I had a choice. Somehow, I’d ended up in this mess without even realizing it—wanting more from her while burying my feelings for over a month.

Jake had probably dragged me up here just to see Andie with Titus, knowing I’d been an absolute dick to him and anyone else who asked about her.

Sneaky bastard. It’s why we all loved him… and sometimes hated him.

Perfect. My dormant emotions decided to come out and play tonight—twenty-four hours before my parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary, which would be a master class in why I’d spent my entire life shying away from commitment.